So, you bombed your midterm… Now what?
Everyone fails. What matters most is how you react.
‘Success’ isn’t about being perfect, especially in university.
Yeah, a poor grade on an exam sucks. Failure feels like a reflection of yourself, as if your worth is attached to a letter grade (spoiler: it isn’t).
The truth is — bad grades happen to everyone. You were sick, you procrastinated, you’re going through a break up, you couldn’t get a shift off the night before the test … whatever your reasons, it didn’t pan out.
But, what’s most important now is how you react. I know it’s easier to mope around and feel sorry for yourself, but that won’t prevent it from happening again.
What to do when you’ve failed your midterm:
- Take a breath
The first thought that flashes across your brain is probably born from panic, shame, or disappointment. Swallow it and cool off before deciding what to do next. Do something you enjoy to manage stress and relax. Then take a look at the exam to see what went wrong. - Review the exam
Which concepts did you struggle with that you genuinely don’t understand? Make a list of questions and talk to your prof. Find out the stuff you wish you’d known beforehand and show them that you are putting in the work to do better next time. - Get real (and compassionate) with yourself
If you actually didn’t try, own up to it and move on. Whether you did your best or not, forgive yourself. Your mistakes do not define you — they’re simply a part of learning. - Reach out for help
There are tons of services on campus to support you. Use all the resources at your disposal — they are a part of your tuition! For example: the Academic Success Centre and Centre for Writers can help you improve your academic skills and give you an edge on your essays and presentations. Outside of academics, Academic Accommodations, Peer Support Centre, or Counselling and Clinical Services (including the Arts Psychologist, Suman) are here to support you too. - Re-evaluate
So, your first try didn’t work out. Are you going to do the same thing over and over or are you going to learn from your failure? Switch up your study strategy. Review your class notes everyday, ask questions and study actively for your tests. It’s more effective to rewrite, explain, and apply material instead of just rereading.
You are going to trip up and make mistakes sometimes. This is your chance to learn how to deal with failure. Recovering and moving forward after failure equals resiliency. And it’s your resiliency that will determine your overall success during and after university — not whether or not you failed a class.
Need some inspiration? Learn how Reed Larsen went from failing classes to being elected SU President here.
Thinking long term can help manage academic hiccups— maybe pop into a workplace with Job Shadow Week! Read about Kyle’s experience here.
Confused about GPA and Academic Standing? See the tip sheet from the Faculty of Arts or talk to an Arts Advisor.
